INDUSTRY INSIGHT
PEACEFUL RESTING PLACE
SPONSORED CONTENT
T
here is a special place in the
southern suburbs of Pittsburgh
that is open, cozy, and tranquil respite
from the bustle of the surrounding
community.
Affording beatific vistas of rolling hills and
wooden glens that wrap around friendly nearby
neighborhoods, Jefferson Memorial Cemetery
has provided a a peaceful resting place since
1929 when it was founded by Harry C. Neel.
Jefferson Memorial Park was founded in 1929
and passed down to his only son, John D. Neel,
who is credited with the growth and innovation
that has made Jefferson Memorial what it
is today. John’s eldest son, also Harry C. Neel, currently runs the
business as President and CEO. Harry’s oldest daughter, Dagny V.N.
Fitzpatrick, joined the sales department of Jefferson Memorial and
is now Vice President in charge of Family Services. Harry’s second
daughter, Whitney R. Neel, joined the Funeral Home team in 2013
and became the family’s 1st Funeral Director upon completion of
her mortuary degree in December 2016.
The cemetery was incorporated in 1929 and constructed on a
parcel of land that had originally been the Snee Family Farm and
to this day, the old dairy barn and farm house are still maintained.
Occasionally, Mr. Neel would barter for graves for grading or
construction with local family businesses. Mr. Neel named his
new cemetery, Jefferson Memorial Park. At that time the land was
located in Jefferson Township but more importantly, it was named
after our forefather, Thomas Jefferson, whom he greatly admired. As
a salute to our nation, a 10’ statue of Jefferson resides in the center
of the Thomas Jefferson Garden Mausoleum.
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME FACTS
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A fully handicap-accessible facility
18,500 square feet of floor space, beautifully decorated in
Williamsburg décor
A chapel with vaulted ceiling and cushioned pews to seat up
to 115 people
5 visitation rooms
Hospitality room and lounge with parquet hardwood flooring
A children’s room that offers parents and guardians the ability
to express their condolences without a babysitter (adult
supervision is required)
Lighted parking lot that holds 178 cars with 6 handicap
accessible parking spots
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL CEMETERY FACTS
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340 owned acres with 170 acres developed and 180 acres
available for future development
1,500 average annual interments
38 traditional ground burial gardens including 4 lawn crypt
sections for double depth burials
Mausoleum Crypt spaces constructed for casketed burial that
includes 5 separate buildings and 4 private mausoleums
14 mausoleum cremation niche units
14 gardens that contain cremation niches
24 garden statues of bronze or marble
Unlike many cemeteries and funeral homes today, Jefferson
Memorial is still owned and operated as a 4th generation family
enterprise and is proudly one of the largest, most beautiful privately
owned cemeteries in the United States. Harry C. Neel, our founder,
envisioned and designed Jefferson to be a Memorial Park, with no
tombstones to mar the beauty of the sweeping lawns.
It had always been the vision of the late John D. Neel to build
a Funeral Home on the grounds of Jefferson Memorial Park. That
desire was fulfilled on September 1, 1993, when Jefferson Memorial
Funeral Home opened its doors. Today, our funeral home has
grown to be one of the largest funeral homes in Pennsylvania. The
convenience of having both funeral home and cemetery facilities in
one location has been paramount to the growth of Jefferson.
Four generations of the Neel family have stood firmly behind one
major motto, “Family is at the Heart of Everything We Do” and to this
day, they do.
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